[PeterPhilly]

Not just to metastasis but also to the initiation of the original cancer itself. From personal experience, changes in the normal expression levels of Hox genes are implicated in several cancers, including myeloid leukemia and neuroblastomas. Hox gene expression is normally tightly regulated and these tight controls are often disrupted in cancerous cells. Hox genes in normal development serve many functions, one of which is in establishing the positional identity of cells in the body. Disruption of normal Hox gene expression causes gross changes in the body plan of the organism, from flatworms to fruit flies to fish, chicks, mice and humans.

[grey_whiskers]

Thanks for the prompt (late night, too!) and courteous response.

Next question(s):

Any word or thoughts on differing levels of Hox gene expression, or differing time-dependent profiles of Hox genes, in adult stem cells vs. embryonic stem cells?

Are there well-recognized implications for stem-cell therapies by each of these modalities based on the Hox gene profiles?

Are the gene profiles significantly different in vitro than they are in vivo?

Full Disclosure: God, what a nosy jerk I can be sometimes! :-(